Naming patterns

Irish and Scottish families tended to follow a naming pattern for their children and these are given below. However, it is important to remember that these were not hard and fast rules and children were often named for other relatives or friends or simply because the parents liked the name.

Irish naming patterns

Sons

1st son was named after the father’s father

2nd son was named after the mother’s father

3rd son was named after the father

4th son was named after the father’s eldest brother

Daughters

1st daughter was named after the mother’s mother

2nd daughter was named after the father’s mother

3rd daughter was named after the mother

4th daughter was named after the mother’s eldest sister

Scottish naming patterns

Daughters

1. First daughter – named after her maternal grandmother (her mother’s mother) or her paternal grandmother (her father’s mother)

2. Second daughter – named after her paternal grandmother (her father’s mother) or her maternal grandmother (her mother’s mother)

3. Third daughter – named after her mother

4. Fourth daughter – named after her mother’s oldest sister or her maternal great grandmother (her mother’s maternal grandmother)

5. Fifth daughter – named after her father’s oldest sister or her paternal great grandmother (her father’s maternal grandmother)

Sons

1. First son – named after his paternal grandfather (his father’s father) or his maternal grandfather (his mother’s father)

2. Second son – named after his maternal grandfather (his mother’s father) or his paternal grandfather (his father’s father)

3. Third son – named after his father

4. Fourth son – named after his father’s oldest brother or his paternal great grandfather (his father’s paternal grandfather)

5. Fifth son – named after his mother’s oldest brother or his maternal great grandfather (his mother’s paternal grandfather)